New Delhi: Former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule might get a nod from the Board of Control for the Cricket in India (BCCI) as the interim bowling coach of the travelling Indian cricket team for the six-match white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. Bahutule is associated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The name of South African speedster Morne Morkel surfaced in the reports earlier but the Men in Blue might have to wait a bit for his services.
As per a Cricbuzz report, 51-year-old Bahutule will join the Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff which reportedly also includes Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches. The duo has already worked with Gambhir at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Meanwhile, T Dilip, who worked under Rahul Dravid previously as the fielding coach, will continue the role under Gambhir as well. The coaches and the players are said to depart for the island nation on Monday afternoon.
Bahutule, a former all-rounder who bowled leg-spin, played two Tests and eight ODIs for India in an international career spanning over six years (1997-2003). Choosing Bahutule seems a sensible step as the Sri Lankan pitches are known to help spinners a lot. The report also said that BCCI had the option of taking another bowling coach at the NCA – Troy Cooley, but the decision to include Bahutule seems to have arrived after a lot of thought. The announced squads already boast three spinners each.
Meanwhile, the Dutch national, ten Doeschate, is currently in the USA with the LA Knight Riders for the Major League Cricket (MLC). He is expected to join the Indian contingent in Mumbai well in time to depart with everyone on Monday afternoon. The report also includes that Gambhir will be unveiled by the BCCI as the new national coach and will hold a media gathering on the Monday morning. The Indian team is to play three T20Is and three ODIs from July 27 to August 7.
Why not Morne Morkel?
The former South African fast bowler seems to be very much on track to be named as India’s bowling coach but it is reported that he couldn’t make it for the Sri Lanka series due to personal issues.
According to Cricbuzz, Sydney resident Morkel has travelled to Pretoria to attend his unwell father. The possibility of him joining the squad ahead of the home series against Bangladesh remains on the cards. “The Morkel deal is not final… talks are still ongoing. He may join later,” the website quoted a source as saying. The series includes two Tests and three T20Is set to be played in September and October.
There were earlier reports of Morne Morkel set to be named as India’s bowling coach from the Sri Lanka series but a recent development has surfaced the name of former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule for the role. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
